Outback vs Passat

[stevet180]

Okay it's come down to these 2 cars, either a 1.4Tsi Passat in GT trim or an Outback SE.
Save me from the teutonic blandness that is the Passat and give me some excellent reasons to go for the Outback.
So far I've got
+ Reliability
+ AWD
+ Ergonomics
+ looks (yes really)

- MPG (big one)
- Service costs
- Parts (e.g. tyres - replace all at once?)
- Bodywork and chassis more susceptible to rust

Please help sway the decision as heart says Outbck but head says Passat.

[blueg33]

We had a 2007 outback 3.0

My observations:

Fuel economy - very poor
Reliability good
Healthy appetite for things like bushings, cv joints and boots
parts and servicing costs high
Uncomfortable for tall people (seat squabs too short)
Obviously excellent off road

[Smint]

You already know about Subaru's drink problem, reflected in VED charges.

Servicing costs can be minimal, apart from spark plug changes and the work involved should a head gasket fail Subarus are really quite easy to work on, i do all my own servicing only calling in the specialist for more involved jobs because i'm not exactly a spring chicken any more.
3 litre has chain cam, 2.5 belt driven, 3 litre regarded as more reliable but after March 06 high VED band as is 2.5 turbo Forester.

With any Japanese car it pays to service the brakes properly every year, the annual salt bath doesn't do the calipers any good.

The alternative to both of these is an Avensis estate, reliable and frugal.

[mersontheperson]

I am currently importing an A4 Allroad and a Passat Alltrack, both with the 2.0 TFSI engines.
These would make the best competition for your Outback

[ChocolateFrog]

Fuel and rust are the only 2 showstoppers I think.

So depends on the mileage you're doing and whether you can get to the chassis with a rust treatment before it's too late.

[v8250]

I'll give you the only reason you'll ever need for buying and running an Outback. Because no other car drives like a Subaru.

For a good few years now I've been looking to move on from my FXT that I've owned for nearly 9 1/2 years. The problem is that no other car manufacturer produces vehicles that work so well on near all levels. And this is the problem us Subaru owners face...what on earth do we replace them with?

ps re' head or heart...when it comes to cars never buy with your head as you'll regret it every time you get into the car and be thinking, "I should have bought the Outback..."

[blueg33]

It was no hardship replacing the Outback with a Volvo v60 cross country. The Volvo is quicker, more comfortable, cheaper to run and does everything we need it to off road as well as the outback, except for steep descents where it’s better.

[GravelBen]

I've probably mentioned this here before but its funny the perception in different countries, here in NZ its Euro cars with the reputation for high servicing & repair costs.

[lambeth]

Having owned many German cars and Subarus I would veer towards the Subaru but I wouldn't consider a UK car due to rust issues. Invest in a JDM car but you would have to go to a normal Legacy rather than an outback(not sure if available as JDM) , however the JDM cars had the 2 litre twin scroll turbo engine which has more oomph than the UK 3 litre engine.

[Konan]

GravelBen said:

I've probably mentioned this here before but its funny the perception in different countries, here in NZ its Euro cars with the reputation for high servicing & repair costs.

Not sure how the NZ proximity and or trade agreements impact on your price for Japanese origin stuff, might be cheaper.

That said, I consider German cars in particular expensive on general service and repair just because of how dammed awkward everything is.

The only big hitter on Subaru servicing is the labour involved on a timing belt. And that's only in comparison with other longitudinal motors, there's plenty of transverse stuff out there where you end up having to tilt the motor to get at things.

[blueg33]

Konan said:

GravelBen said:

I've probably mentioned this here before but its funny the perception in different countries, here in NZ its Euro cars with the reputation for high servicing & repair costs.

Not sure how the NZ proximity and or trade agreements impact on your price for Japanese origin stuff, might be cheaper.

That said, I consider German cars in particular expensive on general service and repair just because of how dammed awkward everything is.

The only big hitter on Subaru servicing is the labour involved on a timing belt. And that's only in comparison with other longitudinal motors, there's plenty of transverse stuff out there where you end up having to tilt the motor to get at things.

The 3.0 litre was costly on sparkplugs due to accessibility and suspension components definitely more expensive that the European equivalent. We needed a door skin and that was expensive compared to the skin my neighbour needed on his Mistsubishi Freelander